The government hospitals across the country are to provide free pap smear tests for the prevention of cervical cancer, the most common type of cancer among women.

The Health Ministry on Friday issued directives to public hospitals across the country to provide pap smear tests free of cost.

A Cabinet meeting on September 8, 2016 had decided to make the tests cost-free at government hospitals. The ministry has written to all the regional public health offices to implement the decision.

According to doctors, the pap smear test can be done in five to 15 minutes. Women from 35 to 60 years of age should take the test at least once a year.

A Pap smear (also called a Pap test) is a screening procedure for cervical cancer. It tests for the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells on the cervix, the opening of the uterus. It is named after Georgios Papanikolaou, the doctor who determined that this was a useful way to detect signs of cervical cancer.